Nicholas Hilliard 1547-1619
Self-portrait Aged 30
Dated 1577
Watercolour on vellum, stuck to a later piece of card
Inscribed either side of his head in Latin, 'Year of Our Lord 1577 / At the age of 30 / NH'
Museum no. P.155-1910
Salting Bequest

In England painters such as Hilliard were treated as mere tradespeople. But this confident self-portrait was painted during his two years in France where painters had a higher social status.